Bangor arena ‘topped off’ again as final piece of structural frame hoisted into place

Nick McCrea | BDN

Nick McCrea | BDN

Steelworkers with Brewer-based Arc Erectors fix the final major piece of the skeleton of the new Bangor arena on Friday, May 18, 2012. Arc Erectors held its own topping off ceremony, one month after Cianbro Corp. and city officials celebrated by hoisting a similar beam to the highest point of the building's superstructure.

Nick McCrea | BDN

Nick McCrea | BDN

Steelworkers with Brewer-based Arc Erectors fix the final major piece of the skeleton of the new Bangor arena on Friday, May 18, 2012. Arc Erectors held its own topping off ceremony, one month after Cianbro Corp. and city officials celebrated by hoisting a similar beam to the highest point of the building's superstructure.

Steelworkers with Brewer-based Arc Erecting fixed the final important structural beam in place at noon Friday, a little more than nine months after ground broke on the project.

The subcontractor’s topping-off ceremony was a far cry from the one Cianbro Corp. held on April 18. About 150 people, including city officials, attended that event, during which workers hoisted a white beam into place at the auditorium superstructure’s highest point.

Work on other parts of the building has continued for the past month, and Friday’s topping off ceremony recognized the placement of the final major piece of the arena’s skeleton, Arc Erecting President Jeffrey Mitchell said.

About 20 Arc Erecting employees looked on as a crane lowered the project’s final beam into place after signing their names to the piece of steel.

An American flag, evergreen tree and banner carrying the name “Local 7,” the steelworkers’ union, accompanied the beam to its final position.

Mitchell said the tree symbolizes year-round prosperity and serves as a “blessing” for the new building.

Mitchell said “99.9 percent of the iron is up,” and that “detail work” is all that remains on the project.

Stephanie Butler, Arc Erecting operations manager, said no workers have been injured during construction, which has proceeded ahead of schedule.